Get freight off Hume

A
recent spate of truck accidents on the Hume Highway has caused Liberal
candidate Angus Taylor to call for more freight rail investment.

“It is
clear that an increasing number of trucks are involved in major accidents on
the Hume,” the candidate for the federal seat of Hume said.

“These
accidents are just another reason why we need to look hard at how we meet the
fast growing freight task in the country.”

The
NSW Transport Masterplan recently released and an earlier report by
Infrastructure Australia (IA) have both flagged that longer articulated
vehicles may be trialled on the Hume, and other regional highways.

Mr
Taylor said an inland rail corridor was the solution.

“For
many years now I have been arguing to establish an inland rail line… [from
Melbourne to Brisbane].

“Doing
this will get trucks off the Hume, will reduce our long-distance freight
haulage costs, and will also support improvement in our grain haulage systems.”

Citing
numerous accidents on the Hume Highway in recent weeks involving trucks, Mr
Taylor said it was the right time to be looking at how to meet the needs of the
freight industry.

“Earlier
in the year, IA provided its annual report… That report announced a proposal
that b-triples should be trialled on the Hume Highway from next year.

“I
have been and remain highly critical of this development.

Mr
Taylor said the issue of accidents on the Hume Highway was close to home for
him.

“I
drive on that highway several times each week, and have driven this road
regularly all my life. As the months and years pass, the Hume looks more and
more like a continuous road train.

“I
will continue to fight for investment in rail freight as a solution to the crisis
on our roads.”

In his
22-point policy platform, independent Hume candidate James Harker-Mortlock says
he would support Goulburn as a freight and rail hub but does not specifically
mention a Melbourne to Brisbane freight corridor.

State
transport plan ignores regions

Meanwhile, the NSW opposition has criticised
the government’s transport masterplan released last week.

Shadow
Minister for Transport, Penny Sharpe, said the plan was Sydney-centric.

“Anyone
living outside of Sydney will be furious with the Liberals and Nationals’ focus
on Sydney – while ignoring the significant transport issues throughout regional
NSW.”